Processing of textile yarns or threads



Patented Se t; 21, 1931 UNITED STATES PROCESSING OF 'rsx'rnia YARNS on HREADS Abraham Moscowitz, New York, N. Y., assignor to L. Sonncborn Sons, -Inc., a corporation of Delaware No Drawing. Application October 9, 1936 Serial No. 104,830

18 Claims.

5 fabrics.

In the knitting-or flveaving of textile fabrics with silk yarns or threads the latter are impregnated prior to the knitting or weaving operation with a so called silk soaking oil. The conventional soaking oils usually comprise in their composition a sulphonated vegetable oil and a straight, that is unsulphonated vegetable oil or fat. The most commonly used sulphonated vegetable 011 is olive oil. Among the unsulphonated or straight vegetable oils and fats mostly raw olive oil, neats-foot oil, cocoanut fat and others of a like nature are used.

The conventional soaking oils, however, present in their application 'as processing agents for natural silk a series of difliculties, disadvantages and drawbacks which considerably impair their usefulness. The penetrative power of such oils is rather limited and the exhaustion or so called take-up of the treating bath is highly unsatls-" factory and uneconomical. They furthermore require a comparatively high addition of alkali, and proper operating conditionsof the impregnating bath necessitate pH values in excess of 9 and inmost instances of at least 10 or higher particularly when the silk, in accordance with the customary practice, is knitted or woven as raw silk or as partly degummed silk, in which case the comparatively high amounts of alkali are essential to soften the silk gum and thus to support the otherwise insufficient penetrative power of the silk soaking agent. The high pH values are not only very detrimental to the fibers and texture of the silk as such but exercise also a decidedly deleterious effect upon the silk gum in the treatment of natural silk which has not been previously degummed or has been partly degummed, such as raw. silk, tussah and shappe. In such cases the gum remaining on the silk fibre coagulates due to the high alkalinity and renders the silk thus spotty and subject to uneven dyeing. This coagulation or stripping of the silk gum is particularly harmful in the knitting of silk as it causes a sticking in the knitting machine and the frequent breaking of the threads or twists.

I have discovered that loan obviate all these defects, disadvantages and deleterious results by using a silk soaking oil which-comprises in its composition a "mahogany sulphonate" in conjunction with a sulphonated vegetable oil or fat and a textile'treating oil consisting of one or more animal, vegetable or mineral oils or fats.

The mahogany sulphonate which Iuse is obtained in the manner well-known in the art by subjecting a lubricating oil stock under sulpho-' 60 nating conditions to the action of fuming sulphuric acid, usually a 20% 803 containing fuming acid, and recovering the so-called mahogany petroleum sulphonic acids or shortly mahogany sulphonic acids'or their 'salts from the acid treated oil after the'separation of the same from the acid sludge; the sulphonic acids may be either recovered as such, as for instance by the process described in the Liberthson Patent No. 2,050,345 (August 11, 1936) and subsequently converted into the sulphonates, or, may be recovered directly as mahogany sulphonates in accordance with the v ordinary petroleum refining practice by direct neutralization of the acid treated oil followed by suitable extraction. The mahogany sulphonic acids or mahogany sulphonates constitute a material well defined in its character and properties though as yet unknown in its composition. It is assumed to comprise a series of closely related sulphonic acids or sulphonatesas the case may be with a varying-number of sulfo groups. Inasmuch, however, as the material obtained-in the refining of petroleum oils is substantially uniform and well identifiable, I have termed and will refer to the neutralized sulphonic acids for the purpose ofbrevity simply as mahogany sulphonate and wherever I use this term in the specification or claims I mean a neutralized material obtained by the sulphonation of lubricating oil stock as afore-described.

The sulphonated vegetable oil or fat prescribed as the necessary ingredient in my composition maybe any one or mixture of the commercially available sulphonated vegetable oils or fats which are obtained by a sulphonation of vegetable oils or fats such as castor oil, olive oil, cocoanut oil or fat, neat's-foot oil, etc though I preferably use a sulphonated oliveoil.

, The textile treating oil that I may use inmy composition in conjunction with a mahogany sulphonate and a sulphonated vegetable oil or'fat may be any unsulphonated oil or fatty substance habitually used in the treatment of textile fibers and-materials and may consist of any suitable animal, vegetable or mineral oil or fat, such as olive oil, castor oil, tea seed oil, neat's-foot oil, palm oil, fish oils, liver oils, blubber oils, cocoanut oil cr fat, beef tallow, mutton tallow, Texas Pale oil, white oil, etc., or mixtures thereof. Thus, wherever I use the term "textile treating oil or textile oil" as appearing in the specification and claims, I mean to include oils as well as fats and fatty or oily substances of the above-described character and nature.

Hitherto the use of mineral oil in compositions of thisnature, despite its highly desirable economical and practical aspects, has never been successfully accomplished due to the fact that the conventional compositions containing mineral 011 could not be completelyand satisfactbrily removed from the treated fibers after the knitto ting or weaving thereof, thus causing considerable trouble in the subsequent finishing and particularly the dyeing operations. I have discovered that no such limitation exists for the use 'of even relatively high quantities of mineral oil as a component part of the composition in accordance with my invention and I have found it of advantage and use as the preferred combination in my silk. soaking oil a textile treating oil comprising a mixture of a mineral oil with a suitable vegetable oil. The mineral oil may be either any straight, that is unsulphonated mineral oil. or a mineral ,oil blend. For best results I prefer to use a straight mineral oil such as 100 viscosity Texas Pale oil or a white 011, combined with a suitable vegetable oil such as olive oil, tea seed oil, neat's-foot oil, etc.

I have found that my new silk soaking oil is far superiorto the conventional compositions, permitting in many instances, to achieve results which it was hitherto impossible to obtain.

The new composition reduces the surface tension of an aqueous treating bath to which it is added to an extremely high degree, thus acting as an excellent wetting agent and eflectuating the best possible uniform and even penetration of the materials to be treated. The surprisingly high penetrative power of the agent in conjunction with a more economical and efilcient exhaustion'of the treating bath is combined with the very advantageous and highly beneficial factor of a low pH (alkalinity) which for successful operating conditions can be adjusted in the treating bath as low as from pH 8 to pH 9 and in some cases as low as pH 7.

As a result of the favorably low pH, the processing with my soaking oil will not deleteriously affect the silk to be treated and its aqueous suspension or a treating bath to which it has been added is absolutely free from the dreaded coagulation effect upon the silk gum which as a rule commences at a pH of 9.5 and proportionately increases with mounting pH values I The forceful penetrative power of the new soaking oil assures a speedy and efficient, as well as uniform and even soaking of the materials treated.

In addition to the foregoing advantages the new composition imparts to the silk treated therewith a certain amount of hydroscopicity.

In many cases this isnot only desirable but requisite so as to insure proper and rapid condition ing, which is particularly essential in the knitthe sameto the silk treated therewith to' such an extent that proper conditioning can be rapidly achieved by a very simple proceduresuch as the passing of the treated silk thread over a moist wick.

The highly eiilcient softening and lubricating qualities of the new agent when applied in a suitable bath to silk in accordance with iny invention, far excel those of the conventional compositions and thus render this agent highly beneficial and useful for lubricating and softening purposes. I

The amount of mahogany sulphonate and sulphonated vegetable oil present in the composinormally water immiscible components, that is the textile oil into water miscible form (e. g. emulsion). In order to obtain best results, however, it is of advantage to use in excess of the minimum quantity and amounts of from 10 to 50% mahogany sulphonate and from 10 to 20% sulphonated vegetable oil have proven satisfactory in the majority of cases.

, use of from 5 to 25% mineral oil and from 20 to 40% vegetable oil but preferably a proportion of mineral oil -to vegetable oil of approximately 2:3. Inasmuch as the commercial mahogany sulphonate contains varying amounts of mineral oil usually up to 35% mineral oil, it is necessary to include this amount of mineral oil in the calculations while making up the formula and to add only so much additional mineral oil' as is desired for a particular composition in ques'- tion without substantially exceeding the aforerecited operating limits. Small amounts of a suitable alcohol such as ethyl alcohol or gycol may be added with advantage to further enhance the efficiency of the soaking oil and may range in amounts from 2.5 to 3.5%. For the purpose of aiding the'emulsification of the treating bath it is frequently of advantage though not necessary to add to the novel composition some free alkali preferably not in excess of 0.5% such as from 0.7 to 1.2% Ma 44% caustic potash solution. In many instances either the mahogany It ispreferable, 1 however, to maintain. the proportion of mahogsulphonate or the sulphonated vegetable oil contains already some alkali and should the same be in excess of 0.5% the ratio of alkalinity and organic acidity of the product must be adJusted so that a 5 to 10% emulsion in water will give a pH of not higher than 9 and not less than 7 to 8 and preferably a pH of 8.5. Water is added in all cases to yield 100% and the composition contains asa rule of from 5 to 12% of water. 'It is, of course, understood and within the purview of myinvention to vary the above amounts to suit particular conditions.

The mahogany sulphonate, as such, should be preferably neutral and substantially free from salts. The sulphonated vegetable oil as used in my composition acts as a stabilizing agent for the raw textile oil and increases the action of the mahogany sulphonate; it should preferably possess a combined 80: content of about 7 to 8%, a fat content of approximately 60 to 75% and relative freedom from inorganic salts.

The materials which may be impregnated with my new silk soaking agent in the processing of natural silk for knitting or weaving purposes are not limited'to any particular silk but extend to .all fibers commonly embraced in the term natural silk", including such materials as raw silk (ecru) cuite, souple, tussah, shappe, etc., as well as mixtures of these materials.

In the practical application of my invention silk skeins are first impregnated with the novel silk soaking oil dispersed or emulsified in an aqueous treating bath, and are thereafter fur-' ther treated to be made into piece goods that is by weaving or knitting; and including the conventional steps such as the removal of excess moisture, drying, winding on spools, combining a number of spools to form threads, twisting the combined threads, rewinding the twisted threads on bobbins, steaming, and coning or quilling.

The silk treated in this manner is now ready to go on the knitting r weaving machine to be made into-piece goods.

As theresult of theexcellent softness and hydroscopicity imparted to the silk impregnated with the novel silk soaking oil the method is particularly adapted to be used in connection with the so termed direct knitting of for instance hosiery. After the silk is impregnated in the afore-described manner, twisted, wound on bobbins, steamed and coned, it can be 'brought directly on the knitting machine. The high-hydroscopicity of the goods permits the elimination of all intermediate wet steps conventionally practiced in the knitting of silk and necessary to its proper conditioning such as passage through an oil emulsion, storage for 24 hours in a room of high humidity, and the knitting proper in a completely inclosed chamber provided with a trough of water to maintain the necessary humidity. The silk process in accordance with my inventionmay be simplypassed over a wick, the bottom of which is immersed in water and -will thus absorb, the required degree of moisture without the necessity of being subjected to the rather complicated preliminary conditioning procedure.

The following examples are given to' illustrate practical embodiments of my invention but are in no way to be taken as indicative of the scope thereof. 1

Example 1 The following materials are thoroughly mixed From 18 to pounds of the above composition are added to approximately 60 to 70 gallons of water at 85 to 95 1?. Approximately 135 pounds of raw silk skeins opened and tied in bundles are soaked in this bath for aperiod of about 12 hours (open bath method) whereafter the excess moisture is removed in a whizzer, a centrifugal arrangement. The skeins are then further treated in the usual manner to be made into piece goods.

Example 2 Per cent Mahogany sulphonate 14.5 Sulphonated olive oil 18.0 Neats-foot oil 36.0 Texas Pale oil (100 viscosity) 21.5 Glycol g 3.3 44% caustic potash 1.1 Water (to yield 100%) 8.6

Example 3 0 Per cent Mahogany 'sulphonate mineral oil content) 24.0 65% F. M. sulphonated olive oil 26.0 40% neat's-foot oil 34.0 100 viscosity Texas Pale oil 12.0 Ethyl alcohol 3.3 44% caustic potash 0.7 'Water v Example 4 p Per cent Mahogany sulphonate (35% mineral oil content) 24.0 10.0% F. M. tea seed oil 15.0 40% neats-foot oil 24.0 100 viscosity Texas Pale oil 24.0 Glycol 2.9 44% caustic potash 1.1 Water 9.0

100.0 Example 5 Per cent Mahogany sulphonate (35% oil content)" 24.0

100% F. M. Sulphonated olive oil 16.0 40% neat's-,foot oil 36.0 100 viscosity Texas Pale oil 12.0

Ethyl alcohol 2.9 44% caustic potash 1.1 Water 8.0

The method of application of the compositions recited in Examples 2 to 5 is identically the same as that described in Example 1. 1

The foregoing description is by way of illus 4 tration and not of limitation, and I am not to be limited to any details but only by the appended claims in which I have endeavored to claim broadly all inherent novelty.

I claim:

1. In the manufacture of piece goods containing threads of natural silk the step which comprises impregnating threads of natural silk with a composition containing mahogany sulphonate, Sulphonated vegetable oil, textile treating oil and water, the component parts of said composition being proportioned and present in amounts sufllcient to adapt the silk threads impregnated there-'- with to be made into piece goods.

2. '-In the manufacture of piece goods containing threads of natural silk the step in accordance'with claim 1' in which said textile treatin oil is composed of mineral oil and vegetable oil.

' 3. In the manufacture of piece goods containing threads of natural silk the step which comprises impregnating threads of natural silk with a composition containing mahogany sulphonate, sulphonated vegetable oil, textile treating oil, a small amount of alkali and water, the proportion of mahogany sulphonate to sulphonated vegetable oil being substantially 1:1 and the proportion of textile treating oil to total mahogany sulphonate plus Sulphonated vegetable oil present being substantially 3:5.

4. In the manufacture of piece goods containing threads of natural silk the step in accordance with claim 3 in which said textile treating oil is composed of mineral oil and vegetable oil substantially in-a proportion of 2:3.

5. In the manufactured piece goods containing threads of natural silk the step which comprises impregnating. threads of natural silk with an aqueous impregnating bath containing a silk soaking oil substantially composed of from 10 to 50% mahogany sulphonate, from 10 to 20% sulphonated vegetable oil, from-25 to 65% textile treating oil and from 'to 12% of water, the component parts of said silk soaking oil being proportioned and present in said impregnating bath in amounts sufficient to adaptthe silk impreg nated therewith to be made into piece goods.

6. In the manufacture of piece goods containing threads of natural silk the step in accordance with claim 5 in which said textile treating amount of alkali not exceeding 0.5% and from 5 to 12% of water, thecomponent parts of said silk soaking oil being proportioned and present in said impregnating bath in amounts sumcient to adaptthe silk impregnated therewith to be made into piece goods.

-8. In the manufacture of piece goods containing threads of natural silk the step in accordance with claim 7 in-which said textile treating oil contains as a component part of said silk soaking oil of from 5 to 25% mineral oil and from 20 to 40% vegetable oil and in which said impregnating bath substantially contains for every 135 pounds of silk from 18 to 30 pounds of said silk soaking oil substantially dispersed in from 60 to 70 gallons of water.

9. In the manufacture of piece goods containing threads of natural silk the step which comprises impregnating threads of natural silk with an aqueous impregnating bath containing a silk soaking oil substantially composed of mahogany sulphonate, sulphonated vegetable oil, textile treating oil and water, while substantially maintainingin said impregnating bath a pH range of from '7 to 9, the component parts of said silk soaking oil being proportioned and present in said impregnating bath in amounts suflicient to adapt the silk impregnated therewith to be made into piece goods. a

10. In the manufacture of piece goods containing threads of natural silk the step in accordance with claim 9 in which said textile treating oil is composed of mineral oil and vegetable oil.

11. In the manufacture of piece goods'containing threads of natural silk the step which comprises impregnating threads of natural silk with an aqueous impregnating bath containing a silk soaking oil substantially composed of from 10 to 50% mahogany sulphonate, from 10 to 20% sulphonated vegetable oil, from 5 to 12% water and soaking oil being proportioned and present in said impregnating bath in amounts sufllcient to adapt the silk impregnated therewithto be made into piece goods.

12. In the manufacture of piece goods containing threads of natural silk the step in accordance with claim 11 in which a pH of 8.5 is

substantially maintained in said impregnating bath.

'13. In the manufacture of piece goods concomprises impregnating threads of natural silk with an aqueous impregnating bath containing a silk soaking oil substantially composed of from 10 to 50% mahogany sulphonate, from 10 to 20% sulphonated vegetable oil, from 5 to 12% water, from 2.5 to 3.5% alcohol, a small amount of alkali not exceeding 0.5% and from 25 to 65% of a textile treating oil consisting of from 5 to 25% mineral oil and from 20 to 40% vegetable oil, while substantially maintaining in said impregnating bath a pH range of from '7 to 9, the component parts of saidsilk soaking oil being proportioned and present in'said impregnating bathinamounts sufllcient to adapt the silk impregnated therewith to be made into piec'e goods.

14. In the manufacture of piece goods containing threads of natural silk the step in accordance with claim 13 in which a pH of 8.5 is substantially maintained in said impregnating bath and in which said impregnating bath substantially contains for every 135 pounds of silk from 18 to 30 pounds of said silk soaking oil substantially dispersed in from 60 to 70 gallons of water. 4 v

15. A processed yarn for piece gobds'manufacture consisting of threads of natural silk impregnated with a silk soaking 011 containing mahog-' any sulphonate, sulphonated vegetable oil, textile treating oil and water, proportioned and in amounts suilicient to impart to said threads a lubrication and hydroscopicity suflicient to adapt the same to be made into piece goods.

16. A processed yarn for piece goods manufacture in accordance with claim in which said silk soaking oil contains a textile treating oil composed ofmineral oil and vegetable oil.

17. A processed yarn for piece goods manufactainingthreads of natural silk the step which I tureconsisting of threads'of natural silk imcient to import to said threads a lubrication and hydroscopicity sufllcient to adapt the same to be made into piece goods.

18. A processed yarnfor piece goods manufacture consisting of threads of natural silk impregnoted with a silk soaking oil containing of from 10 to 50% mahogany sulphonate, from 10 to'20% sulphonated vegetable oil, from 5' to 12% water, from 2.5 to 3.5% alcohol, a small amount of alkali not exceeding 0.5% and from 25 to of a textile treating oil consisting of from 5 to 25% mineral oil and from 20 to 40% vegetable oil, in amounts sufilcient to impart to said threads 9. lubrication and hydroscopicity sumcient to adapt the same tobe made into piece goods.

- ABRAHAM MOSCOWITZ. 

